Good morning…
All week we have been perplexed by an unusual sign. “What,” we have wondered together, “is a traffic table?” One of you candidly wrote, “Still trying to connect God and Traffic Table, but I’m sure it’s there.”
In God’s kairos time, a few minutes later another one of you privately wrote: “I too was curious about ‘traffic table’ and looked it up. It so makes sense. A traffic table is used to raise a wheel base thus slowing a car down in certain traffic areas. I’m not a car buff but I know that God prepares a table for us in the presence of All our enemies. I have sat there often (still do). God raises us up to Him to rest until we get through the troubled or “speedy” area. Love the analogy.”
I responded right away: “Thanks for your insight. I think it is fascinating, so creative of God to slow us down in this way when the world’s traffic overwhelms. Might I share your researches wisdom anonymously? I love the out of the box way God teaches us directly!”
“Sure Sue,” she said. “If you think it worthy. Love your daily discipline.”
Traffic table. Slowing down. Daily disciple. These words remind me of an email exchange from last Sunday.
“God has been telling me to slow down in profound ways the last several weeks,” a loyal subscriber wrote. “So I have taken my own sabbatical from church, unnecessary commitments, friends who aren’t really friends, and neighbors trying to keep up with each other. It has done a world of good. A looming birthday next month may be part of this. However it has been a huge time of reflection for me, spiritually especially, and reading your fun posts. I do believe the Lord says to slow down. And it’s true, it is an addiction to keep on keeping on. Just wanted to share my thoughts dear Sue.”
I replied: “I love your honesty and your willingness to unplug from the pressures of the world to plug into God, the Source of all abundant life. I think many of us are where you are, overrun with unnecessary commitments, depleted by friends who are not really friends, and exhausted by neighbors trying to keep up with each other. Taking a sabbatical from all that is life-sucking, we give ourselves the opportunity to plug into God directly, intimately, one-on-one. Resting in union with God we receive the eros, life-giving energy needed to heal our hurts. Filling us full first, God’s love gradually overflows to mend challenging relationships, renew imperfect churches, and bring peaceful reconciliation to our polarized world.”
I wondered: “Might I share our email exchange with our online community? I think many would benefit from understanding our need to listen to the God’s intimate invitation. ‘Slow down.’ ‘Take sabbatical.’ ‘Enjoy solitude.’ It is so addicting to just keep on keeping on, in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Enjoy your birthday season. We slowly grow more authentic with each passing year!”
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need (Psalm 23:1, NLT).
…Sue…
